Causes of the American Revolution

Causes of the American Causes of the American RevolutionRevolution

Actions by the BritishActions by the British• The French & Indian The French & Indian

WarWar = Cost England = Cost England Big $$$ - Taxed Big $$$ - Taxed Colonists to repayColonists to repay

• The Stamp ActThe Stamp Act = = Tax on every paper Tax on every paper documentdocument

Actions by the ColonistsActions by the Colonists• The Boston The Boston

“Massacre”“Massacre” = Work = Work protest turns protest turns violent (4 colonists violent (4 colonists died)died)

• The Boston Tea The Boston Tea PartyParty = 18,000 lbs = 18,000 lbs of tea dumped into of tea dumped into Boston Harbor (Tea Boston Harbor (Tea Trade $)Trade $)

Violence Breaks Out!Violence Breaks Out!• Battles of Lexington, Battles of Lexington,

Concord, & Bunker Concord, & Bunker HillHill = 1 = 1stst fighting fighting between British between British soldiers & Colonistssoldiers & Colonists

• MinutemenMinutemen = = Civilian soldiers (No Civilian soldiers (No military experience)military experience)

Common SenseCommon Sense• 50 Page “magazine” 50 Page “magazine”

by Thomas Paineby Thomas Paine• Sold 500,000 copiesSold 500,000 copies• Key PointsKey Points

– Called for Called for Independence from Independence from EnglandEngland

– Independence allows Independence allows Americans to create a Americans to create a better societybetter society

The Declaration of The Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

• Based on ideas from Based on ideas from the Enlightenment the Enlightenment (John Locke)(John Locke)

• Unalienable RightsUnalienable Rights = Cannot be taken = Cannot be taken away / people are away / people are born with themborn with them

• Adopted on July 4Adopted on July 4thth, , 1776 (Philadelphia)1776 (Philadelphia)